Evolution of iGluR ligand specificity, polyamine regulation, and ion selectivity inferred from a placozoan Epsilon receptor

Abstract Epsilon ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) belong to a recently described sub-family of metazoan receptors that is distinct from the AMPA, Kainate, Delta, and Phi ( i.e. , AKDF) sub-family, the NMDA sub-family, and the Lambda subfamily. Here, we sought to better understand the evolutionary and functional properties of Epsilon receptors by focusing on homologues from the basal invertebrate Trichoplax adhaerens (phylum Placozoa). …